By George M.O. Wiliams
Freetown, September 10, 2026: President Julius Maada Bio has warned that unresolved financing gaps could derail Sierra Leone’s 2026 Population and Housing Census, a critical national exercise scheduled for December 1, 2026.
Speaking at the Presidential Development Partners Committee (DEPAC) meeting at State House, President Bio stressed that while the Medium‑Term National Development Plan 2024–2030 and its Big Five Game Changers provide a roadmap for transformation, urgent action is needed to translate plans into results.
Census Funding Shortfall
The President revealed that the census requires US$37 million to be fully implemented. Government has committed US$24 million, of which US$15 million has already been disbursed, while development partners have pledged only US$1.5 million.
He called for an urgent financing and disbursement plan to safeguard the census timetable, stressing that reliable national data is essential for planning, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Broader Priorities
President Bio outlined five priority areas:
- Data and delivery including the census
- Political stability and reforms
- Youth, agriculture and human capital
- Macroeconomic stability and private‑sector growth
- Development financing and accountability
He described the return of former President Ernest Bai Koroma as an opportunity to deepen reconciliation and reduce political tensions, urging leaders to reject inflammatory rhetoric and violence.
Call for Discipline and Coordination
On youth and agriculture, Bio pressed for stronger alignment between Feed Salone and the Youth Employment Scheme to expand opportunities in agribusiness. He also called for a comprehensive response to drug and substance abuse, combining prevention, law enforcement, rehabilitation, and employment support.
On the economy, he reaffirmed commitments to fiscal discipline, domestic revenue mobilisation, debt management, and protecting investments in food security, health, and education. He urged greater use of development resources to unlock private capital, strengthen SMEs, and expand investment in electricity and climate resilience.
UN Resident Coordinator Madam Seraphine Wakana welcomed the government’s focus on peace, youth employment, and data, pledging partners’ readiness to support evidence‑based decision‑making and governance reforms.
President Bio directed the Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Planning to present within 30 days a joint framework for partner coordination, financing predictability, and accountability.
“Government must lead; partners must align; and both must be accountable for results,” he said, stressing that every agreed action must have a responsible institution, a clear deadline, and measurable outcomes tracked through the National Development Plan Tracker.
The meeting concluded with government and partners reaffirming their commitment to stronger coordination and predictable financing, but the looming census funding gap remains a pressing challenge.